Half a yard.

That was the approximate distance Houston County kicker Will Cowart needed to lift the Bears to a last-second win over Lakeside-Evans in McConnell-Talbert Friday night.

Cowart’s kick fell short and so did the Bears, 37-35.

Few could complain about the effort considering it would have been a fieldgoal of 51 yards. Plus, Cowart, about eight minutes earlier, had given Houston County a 29-28 lead on one from 41 yards out.

That was to last all of a couple of minutes – not for the first time in a back-and-forth affair. The Panthers answered on a big play via Jonathan Edwards – also not for the first time tonight. The two-point try failed – also not for the first time tonight – but Lakeside was still up 34-29.

Quarterback Taylor Boyett – he and Zach Taisler shared duties on the night – converted a key fourth down which eventually led to his score from the 1. The two-point try failed (see: not for the first time tonight) but the Bears led 35-34.

A 65-yard pass to Edwards (see: well, you get the picture) finally set up a 41-yard field goal by Colby Ellis to make the difference.

As far as Edwards, he put the Panthers on the board first with a 91-yard scamper down the left side. Ellis made the point after. That’s how the first ended, 7-0.

Boyett capped off a drive with a two-yard score late in the second – the Bears also lost a fumble deep in the redzone early in the second. The PAT missed to make it 7-6. Myles White, who was also pretty unstoppable on the night, gave Houston County the lead with a 72-yard punt return for a score. The PAT was good this time to make it 13-7.

But Lakeside scored in five plays – the biggest of those for 51 yards – to go in leading 14-13.

It came out and added a score – 68 yards on three plays – to go up 21-13.

Boyett made it 21-19 from 19 yards out before the Panthers struck again setting up the aforementioned field goal from Cowart.

Check out Houston County's football page for more photos and video.